India A vs Sri Lanka A: Dhruv Jurel leads, Aquib Nabi and Sai Sudharsan in focus for red-ball series

By Karan Malhotra — 25 June 2026 — 3 min read

India A begins Sri Lanka tour

The India A team commenced its tour of Sri Lanka with the first Unofficial Test in Galle on Thursday. Captain Dhruv Jurel won the toss and elected to bat first against Sri Lanka A. This series offers several Indian players a chance to demonstrate their skills in red-ball cricket, with a particular focus on fast bowler Aquib Nabi and batter Sai Sudharsan.

The India A squad features a mix of established and emerging talent. The batting lineup includes Sai Sudharsan, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, and captain Dhruv Jurel. The pace attack is spearheaded by Aquib Nabi Dar, Anshul Kamboj, and Yash Thakur. Sri Lanka A, led by Sahan Arachchige, has included experienced wicketkeeper-batter Niroshan Dickwella in their playing XI for the match.

The full India A playing XI for the first match includes: Sai Sudharsan, Ayush Pandey, Devdutt Padikkal, Ruturaj Gaikwad, Dhruv Jurel (captain & wicketkeeper), Shaik Rasheed, Harsh Dubey, Saransh Jain, Anshul Kamboj, Yash Thakur, and Auqib Nabi Dar.

The Sri Lanka A playing XI consists of: Pawantha Weerasinghe, Niroshan Dickwella (wicketkeeper), Nuwanidu Fernando, Ashen Bandara, Sahan Arachchige (captain), Ravindu Fernando, Anjala Bandara, Kavindu Pathiratne, Dulaj Samuditha, Chamika Gunasekara, and Dilum Sudeera.

Key players under scrutiny

Aquib Nabi is among the players drawing significant attention during this series. The fast bowler from Jammu & Kashmir garnered praise for his performance in the Ranji Trophy, where he played a crucial role in his state’s triumph, securing 60 wickets during the season. His absence from the squad for the one-off Test against Afghanistan had previously raised questions among supporters and former cricketers.

This tour presents Nabi with another opportunity to strengthen his case for higher honours. A strong showing in the challenging overseas conditions of Sri Lanka could make it difficult for selectors to overlook him for future Test plans. With India scheduled to tour New Zealand later this year, Nabi’s ability to generate movement and extract assistance from seaming conditions could be a significant advantage.

Another player under the spotlight is batter Sai Sudharsan. The series is crucial for him to spend time at the crease and regain momentum ahead of India’s upcoming Test assignments. Sudharsan remains a contender for a spot in the Test XI and will be looking to bolster his credentials with substantial scores in Sri Lanka. Devdutt Padikkal, who did not participate in the Afghanistan Test, is also part of the squad and is competing for a spot in the batting order, potentially the number three position with Sudharsan.

Left-arm pacer Gurnoor Brar, who recently impressed on his ODI debut against Afghanistan, is also part of the India A squad. While the pitches in Sri Lanka are generally expected to favour spinners, Brar will be keen to make an impact and maintain his contention for a place in the senior setup. Anshul Kamboj, who had a difficult Test debut in England last year, will also be aiming for a strong performance to revive his red-ball prospects.

Leadership and squad composition

Dhruv Jurel, an India wicketkeeper-batter, is captaining the side for both multi-day matches in Galle. The squad also includes players like Ruturaj Gaikwad, Harsh Dubey, and Saransh Jain. The full India A squad for the multi-day matches in Sri Lanka includes:

Dhruv Jurel (Captain & Wicketkeeper)
Sai Sudharsan
Ayush Pandey
Devdutt Padikkal (Vice-Captain)
Ruturaj Gaikwad
Harsh Dubey
Saransh Jain
Gurnoor Brar
Aquib Nabi
Yash Thakur
Anshul Kamboj
N Jagadeesan (Wicketkeeper)
Aman Mokhade
Shaik Rasheed
Zeeshan Ansari

The series provides a vital platform for these young Indian talents to showcase their skills for future national team selections. The first Unofficial Test began on Thursday in Galle.